How To Beat Mathophobia

“Without mathematics, there's nothing you can do. Everything around you is mathematics. Everything around you is numbers.” — Shakuntala Devi

Knowledge of maths is necessary for both academic and professional development. However, many children suffer from mathophobia or the ‘anxiety that comes with learning or using mathematics’. There are several reasons why children suffer from mathophobia. According to the article ‘Who’s Afraid of Math? Study Finds Some Genetic Factors’ in researchnews.osu.edu, ‘A new study of math anxiety shows how some people may be at greater risk to fear math not only because of negative experiences, but also because of genetic risks related to both general anxiety and math skills’. But this does not mean genetic factors should be blamed for anxiety related to studying maths. In fact, how maths is taught in the classroom is one of the most important factors that influences the experience of learning maths.

Does your child also suffer from mathophobia? Don’t worry! You can help your child overcome his fear of maths by following these strategies. When children think that they will fail, they don’t try. If you come across such thoughts in your child, reassure him that it’s okay to make mistakes. Encourage your child to play with numbers; there are several simple maths games that makes learning interesting and fun. Use technology for short periods to teach maths. Learn more about maths yourself to assist and encourage your child.

You can learn more about how to calm down your child’s mathophobia by reading our ClipBook.

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